The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-05-07
THE STREET CAR FRACAS
BETWEEN MEssRS. n. G. PgARCE
AND L. b. SUGGS
Investigated by Justice J. ]. Barry
Both Belligerents Bound
Over.

uchiiuB DelOfo JuhllCe De y. DAIRY,
upon the charge preferred against
him of assault with intent to kill,
growing out Of the difficulty between
him and Mr.. M. O. PeaIce, which oc-
Cured on the Poplar street car on
Thursday evening. Mr.. Suggs was
accompanied by Col. Patterson, his
counsel, aud Mr.. Pearce appeared in
company with Messrs. Harris and
Chalmers. These latter gentlemen,
however, stated to the court that they
did not represent the State IN the mat
ter. The Attorney General was sent
for and represented the State.
The first witness was Mr.. John W.
Cochran, who testified that about 6:l5
O'Clock on Thursday evening he was
on the Poplar street car and witnessed
the difficulty between the two gentle
men. He then proceeded as follows:
Qles.-Plesse tellthe Co1rt wha. oc-
erred there, and all that occurred on
that occasion. Ans.-I entered the
car at Main street, between Washing
ton and Poplar, going home. The car
was full, and some four or five, per.
haps, were standing on the platform.
l could not get inside of the car until
after It made the turn at Poplar street.
Some OF the passengers got of then,
and went inside and got seat. Mr..
Suggs was standing just inside the
door, the seats being all occupied, and
Mr.. PeaIce was sitting to the right. l
mad heard some rumors that night, and
feared there might be trouble. They
we're cycling each other very closely.
As some more ofthe passengers got of
l went across and took a seat by the
side Of Mr.. Pearce. / sat down by his
right hand side. Then the corner seat
became empty, aud Mr.. Pesrce moved
down in the corner seat. He did not
cit there but few seconds before he
got up on his feet, and put his
right foot up on the seat-Mr. Suggs
standing in the door leaning against
the door facings. They had not been
in that position but few seconds t ii
they both made motions. II anything
was said they both might have spoken
about the came fine. Mr.. Pesrce's
hand was under his coat, which was
buttoned up, and he had his hand
under the coat. He made motion to
strike at Mr.. Suggs, and l caught his
wrist and threw my arm around him
and tried to pull him forward toward
the front of the car. Some others got
hold of Mr.. Suggs and put him out the
back door.
Que.-Wbat wespons did you see
there, if any? Ans.-Mr. Pearce had
knife, an iron knife with a blade
about six inches long, one Of these
knives that opens with ring in the
back OF it. Mr.. Suggs drew his pistol
at the same time Mr.. Pesrce made the
motion at him, and when / caught
Mr.. Pearce's wrist and threw my arm
around him to hold him, that brought
me round between Mr.. Suggs and Mr.
Pearce, and when was in that posi-
ton heard a pistol shot fred from
my back. l do not know who free
the ehot. l did not see.
Ques.-Did you see the pistol IL
Mr., Suggs's hand before or after that
Ans.-Well, l saw it only just as Mr.
Suggs was drawing it from his pocket
or somewhere.
CUES. you see more than on,
pistol On that occssionP Ans.-Yes
sir. ! showed Mr.. Pesrce back ss ia
as l could toward the front part o
the car, and l got him down ON tn,
seat. And as was holding the hsnC
with the katie in it he drew pisto
from somewhere about him, and haC
the pistol in his left hand and tn,
knife in his right. While was hold
ing him in that position Mr.. Waynes
burg pulled the pistol cut of ons banC
and l took the knife out of the Othe
and put it in my pocket.
On cross examination by Col Pat
tereon, he said that he did not sea Mr.
PeaIce have his knife out before tn,
pistol was drawn by Mr.. 6uggs, a
MIR. Pearce had his hand behind him
aud he could not see; thought tn
pistol and knife were drawn stimuli
tan eouslv. Heard neither Mr.. Sugg
nor Mr.. Pearce say word before tn
scuf1s commenced. Mr.. PeaIc
moved down into the corner sea
nearer Mr.. Suggs, with his hand sti
behind him, and then put his foot u
on the seat, with his hand still be
hind him. Mr.. Suggs, when he di
that, was making no demonstration
He considered the knife one msnufsct
ured for the purpose OF making desdl
assaults, and should say it WAS
deadly weapon.
John w. Waynesburgh testified this
he got on at the corner OF Main an
Madison streets. Mr.. Pearee got on /
the neighborhood OF Court street, an
Mr.. Suggs shortly after. When Nj
Pearce got on he took a seat next t
witness in the car, and witness hear
him say, "Swore Cd d-n lie.
The next instant Mr.. Suggs got on tn
car, and passed to the front and d.
posted his fare. Heard Mr.. PearC
say again, "He and his partner swer
Cd d-n lie." At the same tim
his hand was on his pocket in q threa
ening manner. Tried to quiet M
Pesrce, as he feared trouble. M
sugys took his position by the doc
and the difficulty occurred just as d.
scribed by Mr.. Cochran. Heard n
words passed when the difficulty bt
gun. Prior to the commencement {
the difficulty, Mr.. Pearce stood up
the car, and took his pistol from b
pistol pocket and transferred 1t to
: front pocket Of his pants. This o.
Cured near the corner of Adams an
Main. Mr.. Suggs was standing at tn
. door at that time.
On cross examination, witness sal
that up to the time Mr.. Pearce got d
!. from his seat, he saw Mr.. Suggs mai
: no threatening demonstrations tn
! his manner was not threatening
= though it was evident he was AVA
something unusual was in the al
Witness anticipated an assault, bI
could not say which party he expects
to make it. Saw the pistol 81 Pear
: for the first time on Main street. d
: not see the knife until the fraCas b
q gan.
Walker Lucas testified that he W
= on the car when the difficulty toe
place. he corroberated the ststemen
: Of previous witnesses as to place whe
the gentlemen got on. Noticed N
Pearce stand up and transfer his pist
y from one pocket to another. Thong
= this took place about Adams sire,